Saracens have really struggled over the past eight weeks and it has shown on the table with losses to Wasps, Saints and Leicester have meant that the Chiefs- a side not really affected with the loss of players (aside from Moray Low and Thomas Francis)- have taken their seat at the top of the tree. Although Saracens have been top for the entire season so far, we are now entering the business end of the season and it is matches like the one on Saturday that can mean all the difference.
With both these sides looking favorites for a home semi-final, this could be the match that decides who finishes top and who ends the 22 rounds in second place. The past few weeks has seen Exeter continue their premiership dominance and this has seen their consistent performances, married with some largely disjointed performances from the London-based side, cause them to leapfrog Sarries into first place.
However the end of the 6 Nations has seen Saracens welcome back their army of internationals, and with the likes of the Vunipola brothers back in tandem and the impressive partnership of Kruis and Itoje set to rule the London skyline, this clash is set to be an exciting battle.
Upfront the key battle will be between Billy Vunipola and Thomas Waldrom at number 8. These two have both been hugely influential players for their clubs and have been a regular source of front foot ball. Waldrom has been scoring tries for fun and Vunipola will be wanting to prove people wrong after he wasn’t named player of the tournament, during which he collected three MOTM awards and was outstanding in attack and defense in every game he played.
Behind the scrum, the return of Owen Farrell will be a delight to Saracens fans as he brings a great reliability from the boot and a calmness on the field. He will be squaring up against Exeter’s top point scorer and stand-in captain, Gareth Steenson.
The Saracens front row sees the return of Mako Vunipola and Petrus Du Plessis, who prop outside Schalk Brits at hooker. The England duo of Maro Itoje and George Kruis will be looking to continue their outstanding international form in the second row and behind then there is the return of Billy Vunipola at number 8. the two flankers are Jackson Wray who sees a positional change from number 8 last week, and Will Fraser also returns to the matchday lineup.
The backs have the familiar halfback partnership of Richard Wigglesworth (MOTM against the Chiefs earlier in the season) and Owen Farrell. In the centres are captain Brad Barritt and Marcelo Bosch. In the back three, there will be 200th appearances for both Chris Wyles on the wing and Alex Goode at fullback. The other wing is taken up by the versatile Duncan Taylor.
The bench is made up of Jared Saunders, Richard Barrington, Titi Lamositele, Alistair Hargreaves, Kelly Brown, Niel De Kock (who if used will make his 250th appearance for the club), Ben Ransom and Mike Ellery.
The Exeter front row sees a start for the young Alec Hepburn on the loosehead side and at hooker there is returning England man, Luke Cowan-Dickie. The scrum will then be anchored down by Harry Williams on the tighthead side. In the second row, former tiger Geoff Parling will link up with Damian Welsh, who will look to make an impact on his return from injury. The back row is made up of Thomas Waldrom at 8 and he is sandwiched in between Dave Ewers and Julian Salvi on the edge of the scrum.
The Chiefs backline will be made to tick by Dave Lewis at scrumhalf and, the captain in Jack Yeandle’s absence, Gareth Steenson. In the centres, Ian Whitten will partner Henry Slade as he looks to improve week on week as he continues his return from a broken leg. On the wings, there is a positional change for Lachie Turner as he moves from fullback and Olly Woodburn is on the other wing. Phill Dollman starts at fullback.
On the bench is Elvis Taione, Ben Moon, Moray Low, Ollie Atkins, Kai Horstmann, Will Chudley, Will Hooley and Max Bodilly.
I predict that the home side will regain top spot with a victory of 7 points.
